John Terry will march into the lions' den again on Saturday - with his latest manager voicing a familiar refrain.

Terry's return to Loftus Road for the first time since being charged with racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand ensures the high-noon FA Cup fourth round meeting between the two west London sides is even more highly-charged than it would normally have been.

Both clubs have tried to defuse the tensions in the run-up to the game, while CCTV cameras will be trained on supporters to pick out any who breach the law on illegal chanting.

Yet, as ever, it seems, it is Terry in the spotlight, Terry whose behaviour will be monitored from the moment he gets off the Chelsea bus, through the pre-match rigmarole and potential snubbed hand-shake, for the entire 90 minutes and indeed every moment when he comes in the same vicinity as Ferdinand.

We've been here before, of course.

When Terry was facing charges, of which he was acquitted, of attacking a nightclub doorman in 2002.

When the super-injunction over Terry's alleged affair with Wayne Bridge's ex was lifted in 2010.

When Terry regained the England captaincy he lost over that "scandal" a year later.

On every occasion, almost as if he responds to the adversity by focusing his game, Terry has, to use his own words, "manned up".

This time, of course, the potential consequences for his reputation and footballing future could be immense.

"I don't think there are any distractions, I have no doubts with him," said AVB.

"John has played magnificently well and is committed to the team. Those are the signs we need. He is a player we count on.

"For me, John is one of the greatest central defenders in the world, maybe one of the best ever.

"His progression has been outstanding. His qualities are amazing. He's a player who almost guarantees you success, in terms of individual performance and the collective success. He's a player we hold in the highest esteem.

"The top players have this ability to concentrate fully on the task they have in a game. Top players have this ability to come around and focus on the task they have to do.

"All these players went through performances in their lives that make them ready to play in any circumstance.

"Chelsea players get stick from every opposition crowd. No opposition crowd loves you.

"But you have to value the player and the person. The player, John Terry, has been extremely successful in the world game, with high individual success.

"John Terry, the person, is someone I have great empathy with, great respect for.

"A player who was involved in my knowledge making and my process as a manager, and a person I will always hold as a friend whichever route our lives take."

It is the sort of testimonial that has walked hand in hand with Terry's controversies, and while Villas-Boas expects an "even more emotional game" than in October - he will be without Frank Lampard as well as Didier Drogba for this one - the Portuguese could not have given more support.

Where he was less convincing, however, was in his backing for Chelsea's transfer policy.

He admits the proposed signing of Genk wide-man Kevin De Bruyne was not one he was involved in, while Brazilian Willian, one of his preferred targets, looks to be slipping through the net.

Villas-Boas added: "De Bruyne is club policy - a player who was under the scrutiny of the club for some time. I'm a manager who respects club policy.

"A club has to look to the future, whether it's with this manager or another. I must do everything in my power for him to reach maximum potential but it's down to the club in decision-making.

"Willian is a player the club and myself have identified as a potential target, but it's not viable.

"Our project next year is more important than the 'actual project' at the moment. We're betting a lot on what we can build on for next year.

"I think the days of spending £30m or more on a player are gone. It's more common sense regarding what we did in the past.

"We're trying to get young players and the right players at the right age.

"Fernando Torres was a large amount but it was the amount he cost at that time. This January has been the opposite: no big madness in terms of the big clubs."